The Dance Program
for Pre-Schoolers
No matter the age a dancer starts learning their first steps, it’s never easy! There is often chaos in teaching a new beginners’ class - with kids of various ages, all learning at different rates.
Many dancers start as young as two or three, so how can a teacher develop a structured approach to teaching dance to the new generation?
Enter Fiona Holmes ADCRG. It’s 2010, and a little two-year-old enters her Melbourne classroom.
“It became apparent to me, that there are not many toddlers in the world that could learn the over two threes and beginner reel,” Armed with her Bachelors’ degree in Education, Fiona set
out about formulating this structure and has launched it as an exciting and dynamic preschool program called Jump’n Jig.
“I was looking to grow the school, so I accepted her enrolment and begun the very first preschool class.
Through years of trial and error and countless little dancers, I wrote the program down and now teachers across the world are jumping onboard to teach Jump’n Jig in their own schools... Whilst it may appear to be an overnight success, Jump’n Jig has been eight years in the making.”
During those eight years, Fiona utilised her knowledge of Irish Dance and paired it with her study of the core principles and techniques of early childhood development and education.
“The program is developed around the key developmental mileststones of 2, 3 and 4-year olds, with an emphasis on movement and music. My goal is to engage children in Irish Dancing from as young as possible.”
And the feedback so far?
“The most rewarding thing for me are the emails I receive from teachers that have started teaching the program. They LOVE the program and have found a renewed passion for teaching. The children are engaged in every class, and the parents are all delighted with the progress their children are making.”
The program has taken Australia by storm in the seven weeks since its launch, with international expansion well within Fiona’s sights.
“We have 23 schools onboard and a further 5 applications from teachers worldwide. My goal was 20 schools in the first 12 months - Jump’n Jig has exceeded my expectations in every way!”
“My plan is to share Irish Dancing with the pre-schoolers of the world. I want every parent looking for an activity for their child, to find a Jump’n Jig class near them. I want every class to be “unreel fun’ and for these pre-schoolers to fall in love with Irish Dancing like we all have.”
